shipley



Dec. 8, T. SHIPLEY ICE CAN Filed May 31, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SHIPLEY, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

ICE CAN.

Application filed May 31, 1924. Serial No. 717,073.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, THOMAS SHIPLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice Cans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ice cans and particularly to the supporting framework of so-called multiple can units.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple inexpensive construction which offers adequate support to the cans, which will maintain the alignment and spacing of the cans, both top and bottom, andwhich will sustain the cans against lateral bulging at or slightly below their mid-length.

Ice cans are subject to a tendency to bulge laterally after a period of use, and this seriously interferes with the stripping of the can from the cake. This is particularly troublesome in the case of multiple can units, for the reason that the sticking of even a single cake delays the dumping of the entire unit.

In a prior application, Ser. No. 673,135, filed November 6, 1923, I describe and claim a can unit consisting of longitudinally extending side members of suflicient depth and thickness to support the entire weight of the cans. These side members are tied together by cross members which have projecting tongues at their ends. These tongues pass through openings formed in the side members to receive them, and are upset or riveted over to form permanent connections between the side and cross members. The mouth reinforcing bands of the cans rest upon the side members. Certain of them are in contact with cross members while certain others are in direct contact with each other. Adjacent mouth bands are riveted together and where there is an intervening cross member, the rivets pass through this as well. Y

I show my present illVBIltIOIl applied to aframe of the above type, though it is not necessarily limited to use with such a frame. I make no broad claims in the present application t0 the type of frame just described as such claims are presented in the application just identified. Y

The present invention involves the addition to such a frame, or to a generally equivalentframe, of sub-frame formed with openings to receive and confine the cans near and preferably slightly below the mid-length of the cans. The cans are thus given sup port at those points where they are most subject to bulging, and are retained in accurately spaced relation. The sub-frame, though light, greatly increases the strength and rigidity of the can unit as a whole.

This sub-frame is sustained at its ends, and preferably also at points intermediate its ends, by stays or supports, which conveniently are attached to cross members of the main frame, but which may be sustained by any part of the main frame.

Another feature of the invention involves the provision of hoisting trunnions at points intermediate the ends of the supporting frame.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the complete can unit;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal axial section through the frame, on an enlarged scale, the positions of the cans being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the frame, also on an enlarged scale, the position of the cans being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

The side members of the mainframe are shown at 6. These are tied together at their ends by cross members 7 and'8, whose ends have projecting tongues 9. The tongues 9 pass through openings in the side members 6, and are riveted over to retain them inpo-' sition (see Fig. 4:). v I

Extending between the members 7 and 8 are trunnions 10, which are shouldered at their ends to form projections passing through the members 7 and 8, and riveted over to retain the trunnions in position (see Fig. 3).

A short distance from their ends, the side members 6 are further tied together by pairsof adjacent cross members 11 and, 12. These are connected to the side members 6 in the same manner as the cross members 7 and 8 and each pair is provided with a trunnion 13 identical with the trunnion 10 already described, The trunnions 10 and 13 offer means for attaching crane hooks to hoist the entire can unit. Between the pairs of cross members 11 and 12, the side members 6 are further tied together by other cross members 1 1 (two being shown).

The ice cans are indicated at 15 and, as usual, are tapered in both transverse dimen sions. At their tops they are encircled by the usual mouth bands 16, which form an outward projecting flange around the mouth of the can. The side members (i are so spaced that the mouth bands 16 of the various cans rest upon them and sustain the cans. The cross members 8, 11, 12, and 1%, all project above the tops of the side members 6 a distance substantially equal to the height of the mouth bands 16, and these cross members are so spaced from each other that cans fit snugly between them.

In the drawing, I show two cans between the cross members 8 and 11, and between the cross members 12 and 1 .1,, and three cans in the middle interval between the two cross members 14., but the number of cans between these cross members is not material and may be one or more, according to the requirements of the particular case.

here the can bands are in contact with each other, they are riveted together, and where they are in contact with a cross member they are also riveted together, but in such case the rivets also pass through the cross member which, as explained, projects above the side member 6, a distance equal to the height of thecan. band 16.

Except for the trunnion 13, the structure so far. described is essentially the same as that covered by my prior application above identified.

The entire group of cans is surrounded at a point slightly below mid-height by a band 18, which is So dimensioned asitofit the cans snugly at this point. The. band 18 is pro vided with cross members 19, which are so spaced as to pass through, the intervals between adjacen't cans, and so dimensioned as tov bridge these intervals. The band 18, with its cross members 19, forms the sub-frame and not only spaces the cans but also sustains the sides of the cans against bulging.

The sub-frame is suspended on a series of vertical rods 20, which, in the example shown, are riveted at their upper ends tothe cross members 12 and 14:, and are connected at their lower ends with the cross members 19. This last-named connection is made by means of nuts 21, threaded on the rods 20, the purpose being to permit the vertical adjustment of the sub-frame so as to fit the cans snugly.

The cross member 7 at each end of the unit, is connected with the end portion of the band 18 by a pair of oblique brace members 22, whose lower ends are inserted between the band 18 and the end can, so. that the band-1,8 is given. a bowed conformation (see Fig. favorable to sustained confining action. Filler pieces 23 are used be tween the ends of braces 22.

lVhile I show trunnions and 13 in the drawings, it is feasible to omit the trunnions 10 when trunnions 13 are provided. Both are shown in the interest of a full explanation. As a rule, small can units, say six cans or less, will have trunnions 10 at the end only, single cross members 1% being used at all points intermediate the ends. Large can units will have trunnions 13 intermediate the ends. In such cases I prefer to retain the double cross members 7 and 8 at theends even though the trunnion 10 be omitted.

A. can unit constructed according to the above description is light and rigid. The cans maintain their alignment and their spacing, and are accordingly relieved of considerable stress. members 19 so confine the sides of the can that bulging is prevented. Consequently, the cakes can be stripped readily from the The band 18 and the cross cans. This greatly facilitates the dumping ope 'ation and increases the life of the cans.

.Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a multiple ice can unit, the combination of a plurality of ice cans; a main frame in which said cans are sustained near their tops; and a sub-frame surrounding and spacing said cans near mid-height thereof.

2. In a multiple ice can unit, the combination of a plurality of ice cans; a main frame in which said, cans are fixed near their tops; and a sub-frame suspended from said main. frame, and surrounding and spacing said cansnear mid-height thereof.

In a multiple ice can unit, the combi nation ofv a plurality of tapered ice cans; a main frame in which, said cans. are. fixed; a sub-frame suspended from said main frame and including members which surround and confine all said cans near mid-height thereof; and means for adjusting said sub-frame, vertically relatively to said main frameand cans.

1. In a multiple can unit, the combination of a plurality of ice cans; a main framev in which said cans are fixed near their tops; a sub-frame suspended from said main frame and surrounding and spacing said cans near mid-height thereof; and can sustaining bracesv extending between the ends of said frame.

5. In a multiple can unit, the combination of a main frame including side members and cross members connecting the side members and extending above the same; a plurality of cans having mouth bands resting on-said side. members and riveted to saidv crossmembers and to each other and a sub-frame suspended from said main frame andsurrounding and spacing said cans near mid height thereof 61. In a n'mltipiecan unit, the combination of a main frame including side members and cross members connecting the side members and extending above the same; a plurality of cans having mouth bands resting on said side members and riveted to said cross members and to each other; a sub-frame suspended from said main frame and surrounding and spacing said cans near mid-height thereof; and can sustaining braces extendmg between the ends of said frames.

7. In a multiple can unit, the combination of side frame members; cross frame members certain of which are closely spaced in pairs at points intermediate the ends of said side members, said cross members rigidly connecting said side members; trunnions carried by said closely spaced cross members; a plurality of cans having mouth bands which rest on said side members and are riveted to cross members and to each other; and a sub-frame suspended from certain of said cross members, said sub-frame confining and spacing said cans near midheight thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS SHIPLEY. 

